By Bernardo B. Ver II
Contributor
Laoag City—To conform to International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommendation Practice, the Laoag International Airport (LIA) continues to expand its runway and improve its facilities as part of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) development programs.
According to Ronald Estabillo, Civil Aviation Authority terminal manager for the Laoag airport, DOTr has long planned the project for the city’s airport with funding of PHP128 million.
In February 2018, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between the Ilocos Norte government represented by then Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos and the DOTr represented by Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement, Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra.
However, the residential area near the airport will be affected, as well as a creek and a barangay road.
The MOA tasks DOTr to fund the acquisition of affected lots and the improvements found in the area including administrative costs, disturbance compensation, and assistance to displaced people, transfer and registration of land titles, procurement of the services of an independent property appraiser or a government financial institution and for purposes of property appraisal.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte government shall facilitate the acquisition of affected lots and resettlement with the affected persons in support of the national government project.
The Airport’s development plan is also part of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Manual of Standards for Aerodromes, Laoag airport’s development has been included among the priority projects of the national government.